Ed Bethell

Friday's G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes has attracted a field of 14, with just one of the 15 overnight contenders, Vadream (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}), dropping out of York's third and final Group 1 contest of the week at Wednesday morning's declaration stage. The straight five-furlong dash will act as an unofficial championship decider between Australian raider Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) and Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), who are one apiece in sprint showdowns this year, with the former annexing Royal Ascot's G1 King Charles III Stakes...

When Aidan O'Brien resurrected City Of Troy (Justify) to win the Derby, he was rightly hailed as a genius. Sadly, it didn't take long for that piece of brilliance to be overshadowed by an expose-style documentary carried out by Ireland's national broadcaster [RTE] which concentrated on horses being sent to slaughter.  Admittedly, the documentary featured mostly non-thoroughbreds but the build-up and reaction to the programme has dominated the mainstream coverage of this sport in recent times. Not O'Brien's moment of magic that arguably should have been celebrated more than it...

Trainer Clive Cox has confirmed that all roads lead to Royal Ascot for Kerdos (Ire) following the four-year-old's victory in Saturday's G2 Temple S. at Haydock. Cox was winning the race for a third time having previously struck in 2016 with Kerdos's sire, Profitable (Ire), and the following year with Priceless (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), a half-sister to Kerdos's granddam, Ballyalla (GB) (Mind Games {GB}). Profitable went on to win the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot on his next start and that five-furlong sprint--which will be run...

The questionnaire series continues with Group 1-winning trainer Ed Bethell in the spotlight. Proudest moment of 2023? Winning the G1 Sprint Cup at Haydock with Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}). What is your biggest ambition for the new year? Keep training winners and try to train another Group 1 winner if I can. Give us one horse to follow and why? That's a really good question. I've got some really nice three-year-olds. I think Paborus (GB) would be the one to follow. He's a lovely, big horse by Recoletos (Fr) and he's...

Ed Bethell earned his first Group 1 victory as a trainer when Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}--Favulusa {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) emerged the victor in the Betfair Sprint Cup S. at Haydock by a neck over Shouldvebeenaring (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) with Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) a half-length back in third. The favoured dual Group 1 winner Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) fluffed his lines and finished well back in the field after making the early running on Saturday. Bred by Razza del Sole Societa Agricola, the Future Champions Racing Regional...

Moss Gill (Ire) (No Nay Never), third in the 2020 G1 Nunthorpe S., is targetting the Mar. 27 G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night. His trainer, Ed Bethell, hopes to retain the services of Danny Tudhope, who has ridden the York listed hero three times previously. His latest effort was a close second in the Listed Betway Hever Sprint S. at Lingfield over the synthetic on Feb. 27. "He's going to go to Dubai, all being well, a week on Friday, for the Al Quoz...

Putting the success into succession is a familiar challenge in the British training profession. In contrast with America, with its racetrack communes, burdens of infrastructure and overheads often make a private yard in Britain resemble a farm: a family concern, to be passed down between one generation and the next. The dilemma is how to dovetail inherited advantages—in terms of reputation, clientele and facilities—with the imperative of putting your own stamp on a progressive enterprise. Latest to attempt this balancing act is Ed Bethell, who has just taken on Thorngill...

After training for 46 years, James Bethell will retire on Jan. 1, Racing Post reported on Sunday. The licence will pass to his son Ed, who will continue to train at his father's old yard of Thorngill Stables in Middleham. Listed winner Moss Gill (Ire) (No Nay Never), who ran third in the G1 Nunthorpe S. this August, will be among the 30-odd horses in work next term. "I think younger people can work with all the technology and modern communications better than us older folk and I thought it...